Bareun Party

In January 2018, the party's leader, along with the People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, announced their plans to merge the two parties, in an effort to bolster the two party's parliamentary standing ahead of local elections in June.[11]

The merger faces opposition from members of both parties, citing concerns over differences in ideology and policy, particularly over differing stances on dealing with North Korea.[11] Nevertheless, the party approved the merger plans on 5 February 2018.[12] The merger is expected to be finalized on February 13.[13]

By April 2017, the party had already lost 14 lawmakers.[14]

In May, a week before the presidential election, 13 lawmakers affiliated with the party announced their decision to defect and return to the LKP.[14] The decision came after the party's presidential candidate, Yoo Seong-min, declined to join forces with LKP's Hong Joon-pyo and PP's Ahn Cheol-soo and field a single presidential candidate.[14] The defection left the party with just 19 seats in the National Assembly, one short of the 20 required for a political party to be recognized as a negotiating body.[14]

Ahead of a leadership contest in November 2017, an additional eight lawmakers defected, and rejoined the LKP.[15] The eight lawmakers were later joined by the party's floor leader, Joo-Ho-young.[16]

In 9 January 2018, lawmaker Kim Se-yeon,[17] Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil,[18] and lawmaker Park In-sook[18] defected from the party, all of whom rejoined the LKP.[18]